2023-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St. Michael And All Angels, Mill Hill

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Report

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of

St Michael & All Angels, Mill Hill

For the year ended 31[st] December 2023

CONTENTS

Trustees’ Annual Report

Notes to the Accounts

Report of the Independent Examiner

Vicar: The Revd Steven Young Independent Examiner: Mrs C P Phillips, FCCA, CH Jefferson & Co Suite 1, The Limewood Suite, 5 Park Square, Scunthorpe, DN15 6JH Bankers: National Westminster Bank plc, Edgware Branch Registered Charity Number: 1168446

St Michael & All Angels, Mill Hill Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

St Michael & All Angels Church is situated in Flower Lane, Mill Hill. It is part of the Diocese of London within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, 9 Flower Lane, Mill Hill, London NW7 2JA. With effect from 26[th] July 2016, St Michael’s is registered with the Charity Commission and the Registered Charity Number is 1168446.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CHARITY

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England and registered with the Charity Commission as required by the Charities Act 2011. Its governing documents are the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended and the Church Representation Rules in its currently amended form which took effect from May 2022.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Michael’s membership of the PCC consists of certain ex-officio members (the Vicar, our Curate, the Churchwardens and members of the Deanery Synod) and up to 12 members of the congregation who are on the Electoral Roll of the ecclesiastic parish and who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). At the APCM in 2023, nine members volunteered for election. Deanery Synod representatives are also elected at the APCM and normally hold office for three years. With effect from June 2023, St Michael’s was permitted to have two representatives based on the number on our Electoral Roll.

All those who attend our services / members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. With effect from 30[th] April 2023, the following served as members of the PCC:

Ex Officio Members:

Vicar:	The Revd Steven Young	Chairman
Curate:	The Revd Heather Betts
Churchwardens:	Peter McCabery
	Evelyn Semlyen
Representatives on	Colin Izzard (elected 30/04/2023 for 3-year term)
The Deanery Synod	Enitade Adegbite (elected 30/04/2023 for a 3-year term)
Elected members	Julie Akinyemi
(12)	Martin Asamoah Danso
	Gillian Asquith	PCC Secretary
	David Barton	Treasurer
	Daniel Ejelonu
	Emmanuel Ijaola *
	Chinyere (Chichi) Okpara *
	Frances Parnaby
	Kojo Reindorf Asamoah Danso *

Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ .... 2

It was good to see two of our younger members volunteering and being elected to the PCC and we also welcomed two new members, Julie and Chichi. Of the nine elected members, there were three who were able to join meetings but not allowed to vote until they had been on the Electoral Roll for six months.

The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including how the funds of the PCC are to be spent and the care and maintenance of the fabric of the church and its grounds to their best use in furthering the mission of the parish. All members of the PCC are Charitable Trustees.

OUR AIM AND PURPOSE AS A CHARITY

St Michael’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Vicar, the Revd Steven Young, in

promoting of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England;
promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical;
providing practical support and care for people in the parish from the youngest to the eldest, irrespective of age, needs or their personal circumstances;
being responsible for the management of the church hall, Hartley Hall, which is situated next door to St Michael’s church.

HOW WE PLANNED TO ACHIEVE OUR CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES

When planning our activities during the year, we considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on ‘charities for the advancement of religion’.

For 2023 we discussed and planned a range of objectives and activities to help us achieve our aims. The PCC remained committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community, in spite of the challenges faced in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. It maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services and activities can involve the many groups that live in and around our area.

Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ .... 3

Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. In particular we have tried to enable everyone to live out their faith as part of our parish community through worship and prayer and through learning about the Gospel, providing pastoral care to people living in and around the parish and through outreach work.

We continued broadcasting our 10.30 am Sunday service via Zoom so that those less able or confident to attend in person, could still be included. For Safeguarding reasons this service is now broadcast with sound only. Midweek Masses took place on Wednesdays at 10.30 am on Zoom only, an in-person Mass on Friday mornings in the Lady Chapel and also via Zoom, and morning prayer via Zoom between Monday and Thursday.

The Council has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, fully recognising its duty to have due regard to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Apart from at the very beginning of 2022, life in general moved into a new phase of ‘Living with COVID’ which has continued throughout 2023 and has increasingly allowed us to resume our regular worship and activities at St Michael’s. We have been able to once again exchange the peace by shaking hands and share refreshments and food together as people have grown in confidence.

The PCC met on nine occasions during 2023. The APCM was held on the 30[th] April and the meeting heard that a Revision of the Electoral Roll had taken place and there were 126 parishioners on the Roll, four members having been removed and three added. Election of the Churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives and of PCC members took place.

One of the occasions when the PCC met together was for the Archdeacon’s Visitation which takes place once every three years. On the 17[th] July, the Archdeacon of Hampstead, Fr John Hawkins, met with members of the clergy, (but not with Fr Steven as he was recovering from surgery at the time) the Churchwardens and the PCC to ensure that the parish is complying with the requirements of various Church of England Measures. All our parochial registers and records were inspected as was the inventory and log book and the minute and account books, amongst other things. Fr John’s report was very positive with only a few minor action points.

Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ …. 4

Under the heading of Fabric, one of the PCC’s main mission objectives over recent years has been to create a dedicated area at the back of the church so that we can more easily serve refreshments on Sunday mornings and at other events when being able to provide this facility might encourage other group to meet in church and much discussion took place throughout the year on this subject The main stumbling block from the outset has been the provision of water to that area. Quotes were obtained, plans drawn up and a Faculty was applied for and granted. Unfortunately, the quote we accepted had assumed a supply of water was already in place at the back of church and the cost of putting this in place made the project unreasonably expensive and has recently been abandoned.

Also under the Agenda item of Fabric, topics discussed were repairs to the church roof, repairs to the high-level windows in the Hall, replacement of the fire alarm call points in the Hall and graffiti removal in the car park. A torrential rain storm one night in October partially flooded the lower ground floor of the Hall and we await an underground CCTV inspection to make sure the integrity of the structure of the building has not been compromised. You will hear a more detailed report on Fabric from the Churchwardens

Finance was as usual a regular Agenda item and David, our church Treasurer, efficiently kept us up-to-date with our financial position with bar charts showing income and expenditure month by month. Our Common Fund quota of £65,500 was able to be met at the year-end but in order to cover the shortfall, £15,000 was transferred from interest accrued in the Property Fund. David advised that we are barely breaking even each month. With effect from June 2023 a transfer to £2,000 was made each month from the Hall to the PCC account. However, this in turn resulted in the Hall running at a loss. Lettings increased slowly during 2023 but some regular hirers reduced their hours slightly due to a downturn in their own numbers attending. The outlook for 2024 is looking more encouraging.

Collections on Sunday mornings have continued and a card reader was available which enabled contributing to the upkeep of St Michael’s to be made easily and without the need to handle cash. Rental income from Flat 2, continued as did receipt of the annual ground rent from Titan Court although high service charges negated some of this valuable income. We are at present in dispute with British Gas with regards to exorbitantly high bills for electricity. We have been able to make donations to Mill Hill Churches and the Children’s Society during 2023.

The Hall is used for many varied activities including dance classes, choirs, an amateur dramatics group, Age UK IT drop-in service, a bereavement group, Mill Hill U3A, local schools, the NHS, professional artistes and many church and uniform organisations. On 2[nd] May we are once again being used as a Polling Station. Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ …. 5

During 2023 we were witness to some very moving services, including at Easter and Christmas. We once again supplied refreshments and hot cross buns in church following the Churches Together Walk of Witness on Good Friday which was well attended and Fr Steven organised an Advent Course held on Zoom which concluded with Compline. On 9[th] December London Pro Arte Choir held their annual charity Christmas Concert and on this occasion St Martin’s School choir was invited to sing as well. In addition to our usual spectacular 15 ft outdoor and 12 ft indoor Christmas trees, we had six additional smaller trees lining the aisle which were each individually decorated by London Pro Arte Choir, St Martin’s School, Fairway School, Flower Lane Autistic Service, the Sea Cadets and Age UK. At the end of the Concert the Christmas tree lights were officially switched on and illuminated the church and surrounding area throughout the Christmas period, exclaiming the light of Christ in Mill Hill.

On Christmas Eve we held our popular Christingle service which was both moving and entertaining in equal measure, thanks to Colin’s organisation and delivery and members of the congregation, including children, who took active roles.

Towards the end of 2023, the PCC discussed Colin Izzard’s new initiative to start an early morning church activity on Tuesdays to be held in the Reception area of Hartley Hall from 6.30-8.00 am. This would be a weekly opportunity for people to drop-in for scripture reading, meditation and reflection and it was proposed this should start at the beginning of 2024.

Throughout the year arrangements for special services were made; our Patronal Festival, Advent Carol Service, Christmas Carol Service and we are very grateful to Gordon Whittard our Organist and Musical Director for putting so much thought into arranging and providing such beautiful music for our appreciation.

With our children in mind, two Messy Church services were organised, one at Easter and another at Pentecost. Children and adults alike enjoyed some craft activities followed by pizza.

On Saturday 6[th] May the Coronation of King Charles III took place, a momentous occasion which displayed grand pageantry, time-honoured tradition, and regal splendour broadcast globally. At St Michael’s the BBC coverage was shown on a large screen in church and Heather organised refreshments.

In July the parish barbecue took place in the Vicarage garden, expertly cooked by Martin and his team. Thanks were also conveyed to David and Mary White for the loan of their gazebos. In August four adults accompanied 15 of our young members

Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ .... 6

to the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage in Norfolk where they enjoyed worship and fun together.

There have been three fairs – the March Hare Fair, a Summer Fair and a Winter one. Fundraising was the original aim but an additional benefit was the opportunity for many local groups to display their activity at tables in our church and to come together to strengthen community life in Mill Hill.

These occasions do not happen without a great deal of careful organisation and we thank Fr Steven and many other members of the congregation for their commitment for the benefit of all those who attended.

Sadly, in September, Redwood Wilson passed away suddenly and his funeral was held in St Michael’s on 27[th] October followed by a Reception at Sacred Heart church. Redwood and his family had been part of St Michael’s community for many years and he will be remembered fondly by those who knew him. Our sympathies are extended to his family.

After 21 years’ service at both the old Hartley Hall and the new and in the church, our loyal and efficient cleaner, Marie, felt the time to leave had come in view of her partner’s health. Since the opening of the new Hall, Billy had assisted Marie in her role. We heard recently that sadly Billy passed away just before Christmas and our thoughts are with Marie and her family for her sad loss.

St Michael’s was represented at Deanery Synod during 2023 by Fr Steven and two lay members of our congregation for the Triennium 2023-2026. Our thanks go to Colin and Enny for attending meetings and reporting back to the PCC. Colin continued to act as Secretary for the Deanery Synod.

Our links with the wider church and the local community remain strong as we were also represented at Churches Together in Mill Hill meetings by Peter McCabery who kept us informed of their activities. Once again, the Christmas Day lunch was prepared and delivered to people’s homes together with a small gift. Peter also represented St Michael’s as a Trustee of the Good Neighbour Scheme of Mill Hill and Burnt Oak.

It is a requirement that Safeguarding is included on the Agenda at each PCC meeting. The PCC and other members of the congregation took part in training appropriate to their role within the church as required. The Safeguarding Policy Statement was reviewed and approved by the PCC at a meeting held in May after which it was displayed on Notice Boards and submitted to the Diocese.

Trustees’ Annual Report 2023 cont’d/ .... 7

At St Michael’s we are extremely blessed and grateful to many members of the congregation for their time and talents: the Churchwardens, members of the PCC who each have an area of responsibility, our Treasurer, who not only keeps our finances in order but also, through his technical capabilities, kept us all connected via Zoom, prepares the weekly service booklet and posters advertising special services, and many other members of the congregation who carry out tasks behind the scenes whether it be washing linen, preparing for services, lending an ear, guiding our children or providing refreshments on Sunday mornings, to name a few.

I should like to thank Peter our Caretaker for his hard work and support throughout 2023. Peter’s hard work in organising all the hirers furniture in the Hall and on occasions, in the church, amongst other duties, is very much appreciated. We were fortunate that the garden area surrounding our church was beautifully and colourfully maintained throughout 2023 by Judy Vicary. In acknowledgement St Michael’s makes a donation to a charitable trust of her choice.

Gordon has produced a detailed report on the music in our church throughout 2023 and I’m sure we would all like to thank him for his tremendous talent and diligent attention to every aspect of our musical enjoyment.

Our sincere thanks go to Reverend Heather, our Curate and Colin Izzard, our Lay Reader who have both been so supportive of Fr Steven and all of the congregation throughout some difficult times.

And finally, our sincere thanks to Fr Steven for all he does and many good wishes to him and Matthew on their forthcoming celebrations.

April 24 gma

vs3

r4 00 4 V Ooctiui 88888 OOIOO r4 T * O Ci otr (¢ *0 TI O * ? r4 ¢0

r4 TV pJthO r4 0

r4 ? O r4 ¢¢7 th O Ln 0 0 ci 88S Ig (c

OM O r4 00000 d o o o rJ> hi N O M p4 ¢Th 0 r4

rn rr O C> r4 r4 ts r rn Ln 8*=8 r4 CJ ) C O N O ff m

rn rq 888 C O c> CJ o C> Ov Q O 4t 000 p4 m ooo 000 ¢ts tstsm

J *7 1¢ LO LD O O O O P4 ¢n No p• C> Q Q Q ) o O p4 v Igv